Emerging technology from clever cruise control to self-driving cars could threaten more than $1 billion in speeding fines revenue that Australian states receive each year.

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Smart cars threaten speed revenue

Emerging technology from clever cruise control to self-driving cars could threaten more than $1 billion in speeding fines revenue that Australian states receive each year.

Many modern cars use satellite-navigation to inform drivers of speed camera locations, and Hyundai has built on that with a car that will automatically slow to avoid fines from fixed speed cameras.

The technology, a feature of the brand’s upcoming Genesis luxury sedan, blends active cruise control and GPS systems to allow drivers to set a cruising speed above the speed limit.

It automatically brakes for speed cameras, and will conform to enforced average speed zones on major motorways before accelerating again.

Australian automotive journalists test drove the car in South Korea this week, where Hyundai spokesman Guido Schenken said the car “knows where the speed camera is and it will adopt the correct speed”.

But Hyundai will not initially introduce the technology in Australian Genesis models, which are set to use a different navigation system to Korean-market cars.

The relatively simple technology could filter into other cars as it only requires satellite-navigation and self-braking or “active” cruise control, already available on hundreds of new cars.

NSW Roads and Freight minister Duncan Gay did not welcome the development.

“If this technology is about encouraging people to speed until they come to a speed camera then I have to question Hyundai’s corporate approach in this instance, particularly given the recent emphasis they’ve put on safety in their vehicles,” he said.

James Holgate, VicRoads director of vehicle and road use policy, said some features in new cars were not welcomed by the road authority.

“Technology that encourages speeding by warning drivers of a speed camera is not supported by VicRoads,” he said.

Marg Prendergast, general manager of the NSW Centre for Road Safety, said speed cameras were placed at “known high risk crash locations” and have prominent warning signs “to encourage drivers to slow down”.

Cars that can slow to avoid speed cameras are a threat to state budgets, and could be joined by self-driving cars developed by companies ranging from automotive manufacturers to tech giant Google which are unlikely to be caught speeding.

Victorian motorists racked up some $692 million in fines in 2013-14, a number expected to grow by $40 million over the next four years.

Fines revenue in NSW grew from $359 million in 2011-12 to $488 million in 2013-14, but the Government expects fine growth to drop and has only forecast a $16 million increase in annual fines revenue over the next three years, and budget papers published by the NSW Treasury also suggested “improvements in driver behaviour are expected to limit overall growth in motor vehicle fines revenue”.

Similarly, South Australia’s 2014-15 budget said speed-related revenue “is sensitive to changes in driver behaviour patterns”, and that a one per cent drop in the number of motorists fined would lead to a $1 million drop in revenue for that state alone.

Widespread adoption of self-driving cars or self-regulating cruise control could cut millions from budget bottom lines, but it also has the potential to reduce the road toll.

Mr Holgate said VicRoads was looking to make the most of GPS-linked speed alerts in new cars.

“There is readily available technology that will warn drivers they are going over the speed limit, which we do support, as it encourages good driving behaviour.”

He said systems with an “intelligent speed assist” capability to tell drivers if they are speeding “can actually help drivers control their speeding behaviour”.

“VicRoads is developing a strategy for the implementation of ISA devices,” Mr Holgate said.

“The ISA strategy will focus on how the advanced technology can best be used to improve road safety.”